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Graeme Hick
Portrait of Graeme Hick

Graeme Ashley Hick

Born: 23 May 1966, Salisbury (now Harare), Rhodesia
Major Teams: Zimbabwe, Worcestershire, Northern Districts, Queensland, England.
Known As: Graeme Hick
Pronounced: Graeme Hick
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break


Test Debut: England v West Indies at Leeds, 1st Test, 1991
Latest Test:
England v Sri Lanka at Kandy, 2nd Test, 2000/01

ODI Debut:
England v West Indies at Birmingham, Texaco Trophy, 1991
Latest ODI:
England v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), 3rd ODI, 2000/01

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1987

Career Statistics:

TESTS
 (including 07/03/2001)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding   65  114   6  3383  178   31.32  48.88   6  18   90   0

                      O      M     R    W    Ave   BBI    5  10    SR  Econ
Bowling             509.3  128  1306   23  56.78  4-126   0   0 132.9  2.56

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
 (including 27/03/2001)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding  120  118  15  3846  126*  37.33  74.08   5  27   64   0

                      O      M     R    W    Ave   BBI   4w  5w    SR  Econ
Bowling             206      6  1026   30  34.20  5-33    0   1  41.2  4.98

FIRST-CLASS
 (1983/84 - 2002)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding  440  725  69 35246  405*  53.72 121 133  552   0

                      O       R    W    Ave   BBI    5  10    SR  Econ
Bowling            3451.3 10205  231  44.17  5-18    5   1  89.6  2.95

LIST A LIMITED OVERS
 (1983/84 - 2002)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct  St
Batting & Fielding  552  535  81 19349  172*  42.61  36 125  256   0

                      O       R    W    Ave   BBI   4w  5w    SR  Econ
Bowling            1411    6536  224  29.17  5-19    6   4  37.7  4.63

- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.


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Born in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in May 1966, Graeme Hick was a schoolboy prodigy. He scored his first century aged just six and averaged 185, aged just 13, at High School. He was selected as a member of Zimbabwe's 1983 World Cup squad (the youngest ever representative in the competition) at the age of 17. Originally taken along to gain experience, he won a place in the team, as his form so impressed captain Duncan Fletcher. He also toured Sri Lanka with Zimbabwe that winter. He went to Worcester in 1984, on a scholarship, and soon made experienced bowlers take notice with his performance in the nets. For the second XI he made six successive centuries, and his performance in the Birmingham league is still talked of in hushed tones. He was clearly blessed with an extravagant talent, and made his Worcestershire debut late in 1984, scoring 82* against Surrey.

Playing for both Worcestershire and the touring Zimbabweans in 1985, Hick made the first of many first-class centuries: 230 against Oxford University, and topped 1,000 runs in the season. In 1986, aged 20, he became the youngest-ever player to score 2,000 first-class runs in a season, becoming one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year and winning his county cap in the process. In 1988, he became only the sixth player to achieve 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May. This included a phenomenal 405* (the highest score in England all century - since 1895 in fact - until Lara's 501* in 1994) against Somerset at Taunton, and 171* against the West Indians on a tricky New Road pitch. He was a leading light in the multiple title-winning Worcestershire sides of the mid-1980s.

Meanwhile, Hick had resolved to obtain British citizenship and observe the qualifying period. His talents were also courted in New Zealand, where he represented Northern Districts between 1987-88 and 1988-89 (scoring 10 centuries), and where the qualification period was shorter. He also represented Queensland in 1990-91, notching up another three centuries. Records fell to him that had previously been the preserve of names as illustrious as Bradman. In 1990 Hick became the youngest player to 50 first-class centuries, also amassing 645 runs without being dismissed - a record in English cricket. He became the fastest to 10,000 runs in county cricket (179 innings) and was seen as the saviour of English cricket when he finally became eligible for England in 1991.

After a good start to his one-day international career (contributing 86* to a 213 run stand with Fairbrother in his third game), short odds were offered for him scoring a debut Test century, but there was to be no fairy tale. Six runs in each innings (June 1991, Leeds, in the same game as Mark Ramprakash), were followed by two ducks in the next two Tests against a formidable West Indian side. He did manage a wicket in his first Test over (at Lord's), but after more failures in the Edgbaston Test he was dropped for the first of many times.

After a mediocre tour of New Zealand, his first 50 came in his eighth Test, a year after his debut, against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Three Tests later he was dropped again. However the tour to India was to see a marked change in his fortunes, as he was the highest run-scorer, wicket-taker and catcher as England were beaten 3-0. 64 in Madras was followed by a maiden Test century, 178, in Bombay in his 22nd Test innings. The next summer began with a glorious 187 for Worcestershire against the Australians, but Hick was dropped despite 64 in the second innings of the Second Test. Recalled for the Final Test, he bludgeoned his way to 80 (off just 107 balls) before a careless shot denied him the century he deserved. He missed out narrowly in the next game too, the First Test in the West Indies, where his 96 (and bowling of Lara) were bright spots in an English defeat. The following summer saw his first home Test century, 110 against South Africa, and he continued with scores of 80 and 98* (he was left stranded as Atherton controversially declared) in Australia, before a back injury forced him home early. A century against the West Indies, followed by 96 and 51 in the next Test, seemed to illustrate that he was finally at home in Test cricket. His innings of 141 in the First Test of the tour of South Africa was a masterpiece against strong opponents and in a struggling team. The innings concluded a run of 413 Test runs while being dismissed three times. His form then fell away sharply, and failures against India and Pakistan saw him dropped again next summer, this time for two years.

Hick continued to be a giant at county level, and in 1998 he joined the hallowed ranks of those who have scored 100 centuries; only Wally Hammond reached this mark at a younger age and only Bradman and Compton took fewer innings. Recalled to face South Africa he struggled, but hit 107 in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka. It was not enough to win him selection on the subsequent Ashes tour, however, but he was called up as cover for Atherton, and remained when Thorpe went home injured. He performed moderately, and represented England in just one Test the following summer after a disappointing showing in the World Cup.

Hick was awarded a well-supported benefit in 1999, and often captained the Worcestershire side that year, before being appointed full-time to the post in 2000. When Hick was recalled to England colours in 2000 against his old country, Zimbabwe, much was made of his reunification with England coach, Duncan Fletcher, his old Zimbabwe captain. A century at Lord's promised much, but a pair at Edgbaston and few runs at Lord's saw him relegated to number seven in the batting order. He scored a crucial 59, under pressure (going in at eight after a nightwatchman), as England won at Headingley. In Pakistan, a second-innings effort of 40 played a vital role in the Final Test which gave England the series.

27 runs in four innings in Sri Lanka saw Hick jettisoned from the Test team in favour of Michael Vaughan. He responded in typical fashion with a murderous century (the second 50 came in 17 balls with seven sixes) against a Board President's XI that included eight internationals, but there was to be no recall.

Hick continued to score heavily at first-class level in England, creating a phenomenal record with a double century against Durham at Chester-le-Street. It made him the only man ever to have hit home and away centuries against all 17 opposition first-class counties to underline his status as a 'Great' at that level. Incidentally, it was his 117th first-class century, the same number as Bradman. Though it was no surprise that he was not recalled to the Test team, as England looked more to youth despite an injury crisis and disappointing results in the summer of 2001, he was unfortunate not to be in the one-day squad. Hick was forced to look on as an outsider as England lost all six of their NatWest Series games (to Australia and Pakistan) and was omitted from both the Test squad to India and New Zealand and the one-day squad to Zimbabwe. He insisted that he believed that he still has a role to play in England's future, and has highlighted the 2003 World Cup in New Zealand as a major incentive. Though a recall cannot be absolutely ruled out, it is clear that younger players will be given every chance to establish themselves before the World Cup squad is selected.

Hick has consistently been rated as one of the best players in the world at one-day cricket. A talented all-round sportsman who represented his former country in hockey, he earned the nickname "Arnie" as a result of his resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger. At 6'3" and 14-and-a-half stone, he uses his power to hit the ball astonishing distances. His huge hands aid his excellent slip fielding, and his powerful throwing arm is an asset in the outfield. Though his bowling has not always been taken seriously, he has well over 200 first-class wickets with a best of 5-18 (against Leicester in 1995). (Copyright CricInfo September 2001)

* Last Updated: Saturday, 09-Nov-2002 06:46:45 GMT


 
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